Brian Predicts Trip to Insight Bowl

Went to the Michigan kick-off party in New York tonight. It was pretty well attended. Brian predicted a 7-5 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl, but did state that Michigan was more likely to upset a Penn State or Iowa rather than suffer a Toledo-style loss to an Eastern or Indiana. I have already booked my tickets to Tempe.

As an AZ resident that would be great if they come out here. I'll save the gas money this year on going to the game, so that I'll have plenty for my Rose Bowl trip next year. If the prediction comes true, here is the info.

Then Brian is going to have to change his prediction. I don't have NFL Network -- which means I'll have to go to a bar, in Chicago on NYE, pay $50 for some b.s. entrance fee and try to watch my team's bowl game while a bunch of ND / Illinois / Iowa fans root for Missouri or Colorado.

So, basically 3-5 in conference, and don't lose to both WMU and ND? I can see it. Assuming Indiana and Purdue are our best chances, we'd only need to win one more. At the very least, one of @MSU or @Wisconsin.

Yes, and 6-6 (3-5) could be enough to get us into the Insight Bowl. Admittedly, we'd have a better chance at 7-5, but the point is that Brian's prediction for us isn't really that much of an achievement.

will it be an achievement or will it not to go 7-5? Pre-season it sounds like an achievement but who knows, it could suddenly be a lower expectation if the offense can execute and the defense is serviceable. We shall see come the WVU game; essentially, do we look like we know what we are doing? If we can stamp what we see as 'Michigan football', coach Rod style, we have a shot at loftier goals.

You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. ~Dan Birdwell

i would be completely fine with this. as long as this team shows they can play without making mistakes, our young kids(namely tate) can show some flashes of greatness, and we don't lose games we shouldn't, then this season is a success in my book

You might want to check out your cable box. After the last Comcast v. NFL network battle, I'm fairly certain Comcast has added NFL Network to most Digital Basic subscriptions, I know we got it randomly all of a sudden.

Although I'm not a big fan of the "you guys" statements, I have to agree with your sentiment and confess that I'd be one of these people. It would be a huge letdown to start the season so well and then drop off.
Even though losing to lesser opponents would hurt like hell, I'd much rather take care of the ones that matter year in and year out - ND, MSU, PSU, OSU.
I guess, in the end, I'm glad I don't have to choose. I'm just hoping for the best... or, at least, better than last year.
Oh, and I didn't neg you.
BTW, who's your avatar? I've seen that for the better part of a year (long before I signed up), but never thought to ask.

"In desperation there's that shred of hope; people who are down and not desperate are resigned." - Brian Cook

By the same token under those circumstances there would be quite a cadre of people reminding everyone "well this sucks given the way the season began but we'd have taken 7-5 if you offered it at the beginning."

Good to see another optimist. I think a lot of fans will be pleasantly surprised this year. I also think that UM will be able to beat all of the little eight teams on their schedule except Iowa.

UM's historical pattern is to average about eight or nine wins a year. RR's pattern is to turn things around his second year. The intersection of those patterns should result in a good year for UM.

UM should regain their place in the Big Three this year. I refuse to believe that because of one bad year, ND, MSU, Illinois, and Wisky are suddely better than UM. I still see 3-9 as an aberration, not the norm. Hopefully, it plays out that way.

I agree. I actually think that 8-4 is more likely than 7-5. To go 7-5, assuming that we can hold off upsets in the easy games (WMU, EMU, Del.St., Ind., & Purdue), we'd need to win two games out of the next tier: ND, @MSU, and @Wisc. We may not be talented enough to beat 2 of these 3, but if we are talented enough to be 2 of 3, I have trouble (1) seeing us lose to a third (i.e., there's just not that much difference between these games), or (2) if we did lose one, not pulling an upset @Illionois, @Iowa, or against PSU.

Basically, if we have the talent to get to seven wins, it's hard to think we wouldn't get to 8+. It's entirely possible we only have the talent for 5-6, but since I'm an optimist I have to think that the Insight bowl is a little conservative.